It didn’t take long for them to load up and get rolling. Batukhan held up the map and pointed to a location marked with a circle. “If we’re going to start at the Rainbow Bridge, then we need to head north out of the lake area. I’d eat now before we get searching. I hope you bought more than just meat sticks, Mac.”
Chance opened the bags and found one filled with various flavors of beef jerky sticks and another containing protein bars. “How practical. Looks like we have the choice of jerky or protein bars. At least we won’t die from starvation.”
He opened up a meat stick and ripped off the end with his teeth. Mac turned the boat, following the curvy path carved out through the towering sandstone.
They motored on, Mac perched at the steering wheel. The happy expression slid off his face the further they went and Chance couldn’t help but ask, “Is there something wrong?”
“I’ve traveled the world many times over and I have been to this great place before, even long before the dam was built, but I’ve never seen the water level so low.” Mac adjusted his hat and added, “Changes like this always affect the wildlife.”
After an hour, they turned south down a much narrower waterway. They went as far as they could go and Mac slowed down, allowing them to coast toward shore.
“The bridge is in the same direction of the pathways,” Batukhan said, tapping the map, “so we’ll either have to walk the rest of the way or we could fly.”
A growing sense of unease settled in Chance’s gut. Like Mac had observed, he realized that the water level seemed dramatically different from the memory he’d had. Hopefully it wouldn’t take too long to find the cavern he’d seen, but with the amount of curling waterways leading away from the Colorado River, it could prove challenging.
Chance stood up in the boat when it got close to an empty docking station. He stared southeast in the direction of the smoothed valley of rocks. Walking would waste time when they could just as easily shift and get there faster. “Let’s just fly. Once I see the arch, I’ll try to follow the directions I remember and hopefully we’ll be there by sundown.”
“Very well,” Mac said. He reluctantly pulled the captain’s hat from his head, hanging it on the gearshift.
“What bird forms do you know, Chance?” Batukhan asked. “A swallow may work well.”
Mac interjected, “Use what you have learned properly, not what lingers in your memories from Daemon.”
“I know the horned owl,” Chance said, “but I don’t think that’s the right choice. Balam taught me a flycatcher and blackbird. He said it was wise to know animals that are common wherever you go, so you can always fit in.”
“Good advice,” Mac answered. “Very well, why don’t you take the blackbird form. And I want to make sure we remain uneaten, so I will take hawk form. What have you decided?”
Mac looked at Batukhan, who’d already peeled off his shirt and was holding it in his hands. “A swallow sounds good to me. Let’s try to stay together, but if we get separated, try to find the boat and we’ll meet back here.”
Chance slipped off his socks and shoes and lifted off his long-sleeved shirt. He unbuttoned his jeans. Not even waiting to pull them down, he thought about the mapping Balam had taught him. Blue lines wove together in his mind, forming the shape of one of the most common birds he knew. His skin prickled and shrank. Black feathers coated his body and skinny legs perched on the mound of denim.
He craned his head, getting used to the form. On the windshield of the boat was a red-tailed hawk. Its white chest was speckled with dark spots and its brown wings stretched the width of the bow. A pile of clothes lay on the driver’s seat and beside it, Batukhan whispered a prayer. Before Chance’s eyes, he shifted into a swallow with blue and white feathers. It lifted into the sky precariously, tipping left to right.
Chance had forgotten about Batukhan’s problem with shifting into animals, an issue that had developed when he almost died saving Lifen, hundreds of years earlier. For a moment he worried it would affect his ability to catch up and stay safe, but Chance figured he’d survived a long time with the handicap.
Flapping his wings, Chance lifted into the air and took off. Rocky towers rose into the sky, but he climbed higher. From his view he could see what appeared to be the Rainbow Bridge, curving across the stony earth. In relation to the memory he’d had only yesterday, things did appear a bit different, greatly due to the water level below him. Concern crept into his mind, but he pushed it away. He couldn’t waste energy on fear. Not yet, anyway.
A shadow touched his feathers and he wobbled in the air current from the surprise. He slowed up, tilting his head to see Mac above him in hawk form. Soft coos came from nearby. The small swallow worked to join him at his altitude.
It wasn’t long before they reached the grand dome of orange stone, only appearing as a crescent of rock from above. Chance dipped down into the valley, aware of a few groups of people walking along paths to the great natural monument. The closer he got, the faster his heart raced in excitement. He flew around it and from the southern-most approach, glided directly under it, experiencing its sheer magnitude.
If there had been any question before, he knew he was in the right place. This was definitely the starting location of Daemon’s memory. Albeit a little different without the full river below, it was the same place.
He guided the others with him back the way they’d come, continuing past the dock where they’d left their boat and on through the sandstone maze. A rainbow of white, yellow and orange colored the walls around them and the deep blue water shone in the afternoon sun. The river-worn pathways twisted back and forth and Chance followed them as best he could back out to the wider path of the Colorado. Like in the vision, he turned to his right, moving northeast.
The day passed far more quickly than he was prepared for. With the water level so low, he wasn’t sure which fingerling valley was the right one. He flew through countless avenues, searching for the crack on top of the plateau of stone, but was unsuccessful.
When the sun touched the horizon, Mac and Batukhan turned back. Chance wasn’t ready to stop looking, but knew that if he couldn’t find it in daylight, it would be near impossible in the dark, so he followed them back to the boat. The beginning of twilight meant a few points of light were visible in the sky, the first stars of the evening.
The others shifted and began to put their clothes back on in silence. Chance sat down, grabbed his jeans and began to do the same. He couldn’t bring himself to speak. He’d left his wife hours after their wedding to try to find the solution to her problem. It had seemed too simple and now, it was obvious that nothing would come easy for them. Not even finding the mysterious talisman.
“You should drink some water and feed yourself.” Mac thrust a cup of water into his hands. One of the bags of protein bars and beef jerky followed.
Chance growled, “I don’t feel like it!”
He knocked the water away, sending it clattering to the floor. Chance groaned and rolled his eyes. He probably looked like a big baby throwing a tantrum. He could hear Niyol’s voice in his head saying, Patience. How are you going to get anywhere if you are too focused on what you haven’t accomplished?
“Sorry,” he muttered. “You’re right.”
A new cup of water was handed to him and he drank the whole thing before lifting his eyes in embarrassment. Mac had a meat stick hanging out of his mouth like a piece of wheat. He was tying his shoes and seemed oblivious of the scene Chance had just made.
Batukhan handed him his cellphone. “Do you want to call Ana?”
Chance accepted it and turned it on. As much as he wanted to hear her voice, he didn’t want to admit he hadn’t found what he was looking for, so he simply texted her, We’re safe, nothing yet – love you.
He tossed his phone on the back rail, picked a protein bar out of the bag in his lap and opened it. After the first bite, his stomach rumbled loudly. He hadn’t realized how hungry he was, but after an afternoon of fly
ing, it made sense.
“So, obviously I didn’t find it,” Chance mumbled.
“Anything worth finding takes a journey,” Mac said with a mouthful of food. “But that does sound like something someone might say who gets lost a lot. Speaking of which, I need some time alone. I will be back when all the stars come out.”
He stood up, stretched and climbed off the boat onto the floating dock.
Chance rested the hand that held his protein bar against his knee and said in exasperation, “You’re going to leave now? It’s not really the best time—shouldn’t we talk and make a plan?”
Mac shrugged and said matter-of-factly, “It has been a long day of travel. I must give time to reconnecting. Plus, I am not sure you are ready to talk. As my old friend liked to say, you cannot wake a man who pretends to be asleep.”
Chance frowned. Trying to keep up with Mac was hard sometimes and this was one of those times.
“Whatever,” he mumbled, feeling annoyed.
He watched Mac walk along the pier to the rocky path onshore that led to the Rainbow Bridge until he couldn’t see his form any longer.
“How long did you say you knew him?” Chance asked Batukhan.
With his shoes off, Batukhan sat cross-legged on the back seat of the boat. He said in a soft, deep voice, “I have never said how long I’ve known him. It may have been four or five hundred years, but he has always been a funny sort of man who likes time to himself. I like him for his peaceful mind and plain talk. I trust him.”
Chance mumbled, “Me too.”
“If I am not wrong, I think he was suggesting you settle your mind. I was going to meditate after our long day. Would you like to join me?”
Chance sat beside Batukhan. He tucked his feet under his knees and closed his eyes. There wasn’t anything better to do right then. Plus, through experience, he’d learned to listen when Batukhan made a suggestion. Muscles tight and shoulders lifted, he took a deep breath. The tension he’d been feeling lessened a little and he continued to sit still until the sky had deepened into a blanket of cobalt with spots of white stars.
Chance looked around lazily. Batukhan was tilted off center and his breathing was steady and slow. A faint snore could be heard with every inhalation. It was clear his meditation had led him into a deep sleep. There was no sign of Mac.
After sitting in the quiet on the boat, Chance knew he was no longer as anxious as he had been. He was ready to talk. He needed to feel like he was moving in the right direction, that he would find what he was looking for and soon.
Careful not to disturb Batukhan, he got up and climbed out of the boat. Chance followed the path off the floating pier and onto land. He was sure Mac had moved in the direction of the Rainbow Bridge, so he walked south on the worn foot trail in the moonlight, his bare feet moving silently on the rocky earth. The large arch came into view and so did the form of a man, sitting before it.
Chance jogged ahead and stood beside him. “Hey, Mac. You could’ve just meditated with us.”
Mac stared ahead, unblinking, his face serious and stony. Even when he was concerned or reflective, Mac couldn’t seem to rise out of his good-humored demeanor. Chance was struck by his sedate appearance.
Without turning to look at him, Mac said with a level voice, “You lack patience.”
Laughing, Chance sat down beside him and grew serious. “My grandfather always told me that. I miss him.”
“Hold fast to the words of your ancestors.” He spoke in a way that reminded him of Niyol; it was accented and slow.
Chance turned to look at him in the moonlight. Mac was definitely sitting beside him. Something was very different, but he couldn’t figure it out.
Mac continued to speak, “I am a child of the sun. It is my purpose to aid my kachina friend and to bring the fifth age of man.”
“Uh, okay,” Chance responded slowly. “You should lay off the drink, especially tonight.”
He second-guessed joining Mac. He hadn’t come to listen to a bunch of riddles and weird behavior. He lifted himself up, deciding it was time to go back to the boat.
“Wait,” Mac said and clapped his hand on Chance’s shoulder. “If you leave now, I won’t be able to tell you the last ingredient of the Three Sister’s Soup and the secret to life, and no, it’s not hockey.”
Chance looked over at his friend and glowered at him. Lines creased away from Mac’s eyes as he smiled back at Chance.
“What’s up, you’re acting weird,” Chance stated while he moved back a few inches.
Had he been following the advice of a mad man?
“Oh, no. My people go so far back, you have no name for them.” Mac tilted his head to look at the stars. “I believe it is the time to tell you the truth of who I am. Minutes ago you were not speaking to me, but my host, Istaqa. He is a good friend who saved me from my dying body. He was willing to allow me to use his so I could continue my job here on Earth.”
Chance cleared his throat, feeling a bit apprehensive and worried about where all of this was going. The truth, as Mac put it, had led Chance’s life in a very dangerous direction.
Mac continued, “For as long as stories were told, my people had the abilities given to us by the creator—shifting and healing—the very same powers that were passed down to you from your ancestors. These abilities were supposedly given so we could maintain balance on Earth. For many centuries that purpose remained true, but with time comes erosion and that idealism changed. We imagined we were the hand and arm of the creator, that we did what he wanted. It was suggested that we become more powerful, that we could do more. From every corner of the world, a rumor spread among our kind that there was a way to join with the energy that surrounds us, to become eternal. In secret, our kind tested that idea, from many cultures and many lands. Like you saw in Daemon’s memories, the result of these experiments created a being like myself and Daemon. Souls that change hosts at our death.”
“What?” Chance hissed.
“This discovery was exciting at first, but then the weight of our greed fell heavy around us—many cultures were destroyed because of this power. The survivors realized that by taking power that wasn’t theirs, they’d created imbalance and harm. In the ruins, loyal friends met and vowed to use their lives to create balance and to shepherd our kind to stay true to our purpose. As far as I know, I’m the last survivor.”
Chance’s mind was reeling. Why couldn’t Mac’s secret have been that he liked playing video games? He spat out the first thing that came to mind, “How can I trust you? How do I know you’re not just waiting to use Ana for yourself? To become eternal, just like Daemon wants?”
“I hope I‘ve gained your trust at this point, but I have no way to prove to you what my intentions are outside of my actions. I hope you find a way to save your star maiden. As I help you on your journey, I hope to create balance by removing Daemon from the world.” He paused. “I believe he has overstayed his welcome.”
Chance stared at Mac, who was grinning pleasantly back at him. Chance motioned toward him. “So, this isn’t the body you were born with?”
“No, this body was unselfishly offered to me by my friend when I needed it most. His people walked the land nearby and were on a similar quest for balance and goodness. I give him time to himself whenever I can—after all, it is I who is occupying his body.”
“That’s why you’re always going off into the wilderness,” Chance said.
“Yes, it is. Plus, I like walking alone on the land. It reminds me of why my vow is so important.”
Outside of loving Ana, Chance had never held onto anything as constant as Mac had. He couldn’t imagine roaming the earth for so long alone and with a goal like his.
“What are you thinking?” Mac asked.
Chance shrugged. “I just can’t imagine knowing your purpose and living it out so long.”
“Listen, my friend always likes to say that wisdom comes when you stop looking for it and you start living the life that was intended
for you. Chance, you may not know what your purpose is yet, or maybe you’re already living it. From the sound of it, your grandfather believed in you. Maybe it’s time to believe in yourself.”
Mac picked up three small stones and began to juggle them. Chance watched him move his hands effortlessly for some time before saying anything.
“So, I shouldn’t be worried about finding the relic?” he asked.
Mac continued to juggle. “Your focus shouldn’t be that you’ve failed to find the relic, but that it is waiting for you to find it—that you will. Ana is what keeps your world going ’round and it’s good to have something you would turn the world ’round for. You, my friend, are the next generation and you can choose what you stand for. Just make sure it’s worth dying for.”
By the time he stopped talking, the stones were no longer arcing through the air, but held in silence. Chance swallowed and said, “Then I guess I know what I stand for.”
With surprising speed, Mac jumped up from the ground and stretched. “Well, I think, if my intuition’s right, I need a good night’s sleep tonight. Before I go, I wanted to share with you the last step of my Three Sister’s Soup which, I find, can be applied to life. Let it sit untouched overnight to simmer, be patient and let the flavors come together until it’s ready. It’s never wise to rush anything, least of all a moody sister.”
Mac took a few steps away from him and paused, appearing to think hard. He added, “I wonder. Do you think it would be a good idea to try to relive Daemon’s memory again—to get more details?”
Chance was slightly confused. “Did you bring a lighter or something?”
“Nope, you don’t need it. Fire only provides a focal point—you already know what to do. Remember, you’re the next generation. I’m just an old man muttering about soup and hockey.” Mac saluted him and turned down the trail, humming to himself as he went.
A soft breeze brushed the hair from his face and Chance stared up at the stars above. He thought of Ana, somewhere underneath the same sky, and knew he had to try.
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